in a new interview, house minority leader nancy pelosi made her case for president obama's plan to avoid sequestration. the major budget cuts that will go into action unless the president and congress can strike a deal. >> we have to look at how we get growth with jobs. that's where the revenue comes from. you don't get it by cutting education, cutting back on investments in science and national institutes of health, food safety, you name it. so it isn't as much a spending problem as much as it is priorities. that's what a budget is, setting priorities. >> one law maker who does think we have a spending problem is republican senator and tea party favorite rand paul. he made a bold statement in an interview this morning. >> the president's now caterw caterwauling about the sequester. so many are saying the sequester is a pittance. $1 trillion, and we're going to increase spending $9 trillion. even with the sequester, spending goes up $9 trillion, we're not even close to scratching the surface. >> joining me now, political columnist for "the washington post" dana milbank. good day to you.